§ Mr. WrayTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Montserrat; and what developments have taken place since the volcanic activity in 1997. [115164]
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§ Mr. MacShaneSince the volcanic crisis of 1995–97, one of the main priorities for Montserrat has been a return to self-sufficiency. Substantial redevelopment of the habitable part of Montserrat has been achieved, mainly through support (totalling £180 million to date) provided by the Department for International Development (DFID). To support Montserrats return to self-sufficiency, a further £45.6 million in DFID support has been earmarked for the period 2002–03 to 2005–06.
Another major concern is the continuing safety of the people on the island. The volcano is still active and constantly monitored. The dome of the volcano continues to grow and is the largest it has ever been and all the evidence indicates that the level of hazard is increasing as the dome grows. For public safety, around two-thirds of the southern part of the island remains an exclusion zone. The exclusion zone is reviewed regularly and was extended last October after careful consideration of scientific advice.